NCJ Number
26253
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 38 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1974) Pages: 14-19
Date Published
1974
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR URGES A REHABILITATIVE APPROACH OF SHORT, FLAT PRISON SENTENCES OF BETWEEN FOUR TO EIGHT MONTHS, FOR NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS, FOLLOWED BY LONGER PERIODS OF NONCOERCIVE SUPPORT AND HELP IN THE COMMUNITY.
Abstract
THIS APPROACH ENCOMPASSES A BROADENING OF THE MEASURES OF CORRECTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS TO INCLUDE SUCH GOALS AS CAUSING THE OFFENDER TO COMMIT FEWER CRIMES AND LEADING A PREVIOUSLY NON-WORKING OFFENDER TO GET AND HOLD A STEADY JOB. AS PROPOSED, THE PRISON PORTION OF THE SENTENCE WOULD ADDRESS ITSELF TO THE RETRIBUTION AND INCAPACITATION EXACTED OF THE OFFENDER BY SOCIETY, AND THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT PHASE WOULD ADDRESS ITSELF TO THE REALITY THAT SO MANY OFFENDERS ARE PERSONS WITH IDENTIFIABLE PROBLEMS WHICH CAN BE AMELIORATED IF HELP IS MADE AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO SEEK HELP. THE SHORT PRISON TERM, SINCE IT WOULD BE PRINCIPALLY RETRIBUTIVE, WOULD REQUIRE ONLY MODEST PROGRAM INPUTS, WHILE THE MUCH LONGER PERIODS OF HELPING SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY WOULD REPRESENT THE MAJOR REHABILITATIVE INPUT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)